Don't Stair at Me

One of the quintessential aspects of a tiny house design is the use of vertical space. Most designs have a loft area that acts as a bedroom. And since an average staircase would take up almost half a tiny home, ladders are frequently used. But as anyone who has been with me for a single minute knows, I plan on sharing my home with at least one furry companion- cat, dog, maybe one of each. Most quadrupeds aren't great with ladders. I'm not good with ladders either, and they scare me. Not scared of heights, just ladders.

Thankfully, I am not the only one adverse to vertical death traps. There are multiple designs for tiny house stairs. Some are just as compact as possible to save space, others utilize the space taken up to create storage.

I'm currently leaning toward a variation of the design the Wilsons used in their home. Custom designed for their house "Lucy", you can see how they did it on their blog DIY House Building. I like that this design gives you a full closets since I hang most of my clothes.

Storage Stairs in Lucy

Knock Knock!

I made my first purchase for my tiny house! I found this charming door on Craig's List, and could picture it as the perfect door for my home. And the price was perfect, only $35!

I want my home to be composed of mix matched pieces with lots of character. I've been searching local sites for reclaimed wood or stained glass when I found this gem. Getting it though was an adventure. Despite growing up in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, the second I cross a river I will get lost (even with a gps). Thankfully the seller was extremely nice and eventually just met me where I ended up! I learned the man had a new puppy and I instantly switched into work mode offering him low cost veterinary options. And what a small world, he worked on the roof of the shelter! So that was the cherry on my first tiny house investment.

Down the road, I'm going to replace the mail slot. The current one is sealed shut and there isn't any hardware on the opening on the back. Definitely will have to strip the door, but I can't decide if I want to just stain the wood or go for a fun pop of color.

The Adventure Begins

This past year I rented my first apartment, all on my own. I had a new job, moved to a new part of town, and was ready to enter adulthood! Despite the relatively low rent, it included no utilities. Naturally that winter was one of the coldest on record, despite weatherizing my apartment, gas bills cleaned out my savings. My once quaint little apartment was sucking me dry financially- and emotionally. The upkeep of the place all on my own made it seem much larger than the single bedroom apartment it was.
I was going broke paying rent for a place I didn't own, was spending time constantly cleaning, and didn't even like the place. The houses in the neighborhood were once lovely, but the area has become poor (which is why I could afford the rent in the first place), the houses are smooshed together and the skies are covered with power lines. I wanted to run away to the country, but could find no one to run with me and there was no way to afford it on my own.
I kept hoping something would come up, something affordable but away from the city. And I did, but it wasn't the traditional solution.

A Tumbleweed Tiny House

I had seen tiny houses before and while fascinated by them, never thought I could part with my possessions and live in such a small space. Having a whole apartment to myself taught me that I didn't need as much space as I thought. The idea of building my own home, owning it myself, and being able to take my home with me should I ever move- an entertaining fantasy was starting to become a tangible reality.
Thus I have begun my journey to build my own tiny house, collecting images, researching, and saving money. This blog is to chronicle my adventures as I delve into the tiny house community!